on good news

I heard from a conservative web-log for peace that a Lutheran pastor whose work I had thought was quite "nifty" decided to convert to Orthodoxy. Now, that's awesome news, I'm very glad for it, but it raises a point about Protestantism. It seems less possible every day for a Protestant to earnestly step towards historic Christianity without abandoning Protestantism. Now, I'm an ideologue and really can't even see how Protestantism is possible, much less desirable [as if desire were important when seeking truth], but it always gave me some hope for dialogue to see some Protestants respecting the first 1500 years of history. And it seems every one of the people who does that whom I like quits being a Protestant as I watch. Now, there are some Protestants who purport to do that whose work I don't like at all [Touchstone, that rag, recently wrote about a number of them], such as the "Ancient-Future" folks, and for all I know they'll always be Protestant or they may convert tomorrow, but the people whose work I really do dig just keep jumping ship. It's disturbing. One possible set of exceptions: Anglicans whose work I dig, but they wiggle about whether they're really Protestants or not. And seriously: who do I look to as a good example for Lutherans now? Certainly not the seminary down the road with a rainbow flag and women in training for the pastorate.

EDIT: Though I can see how most Protestants wouldn't have a problem with women in the pastorate, as there doesn't seem to be much about what they have the pastor do that could not be or is not already done by a woman by their own admission if not for a debatable scriptural proposition to the contrary, though, with the sacramental views of Lutherans, I would not think they generally fall under such arguments. The fanatics, as Luther called them, however, should have no principled objection, though it seems they are the only ones still objecting.

At least the dark don't hide it.

I had some ideas for a post to write, but I've forgotten them all. But let me just say that 4:49 sunsets are pretty lame.

I'm no legal scholar...

...but I thought the above link made for fun reading.

For a good demonstration of proper hat etiquette, watch To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus is a true gentleman, even taking his hat off when talking to the ladies.

People talk, boy, but they seldom listen. She's only seventeen, but she knows talk is cheap.

Another interesting article: this one against gambling. C.S. Lewis once remarked about gambling [and pederasty] that it wasn't a sin he spoke much against because he had never been tempted by it. That, however, doesn't prevent me from pointing to articles about the grave evil of the practice, like that unto dancing and the theater [just kidding, gambling is intrinsically evil while dancing is evil for its effects, making the unholy trinity of "cards, dancing, and the theater" a bit lopsided].

today's agenda!

• Buy a mouse so I can do my semilucrative work on my Windows box without stealing the good mouse from my Lunix box.
• Do semilucrative work on my Windows box [I'll make more today and tomorrow than in the rest of the week at my "real" "job" - and it isn't that much [I had a bad week]].
• Eat kielbasa, maybe some ice cream.
• Read more of The Guide for the Perplexed - I just got to the point where he's done talking about philology and is now talking about the real stuff, I was like, gosh, there's Aquinas!
• Go to bed early.

All in all, a satisfying day is planned. I've been up since 6! It's 8:30!

UPDATE: I purchased a mouse and rearranged my desk so I could have two monitors. It's pretty sweet. I also bought a Boston "creme" from Dunkin' Donuts on my way home. It was too early in the morning for ice cream and it's a Saturday, so I deserve some indulgence. I haven't, however, started working yet. The mouse works fine so far. I have two keyboards in my lap. I'm using both! I'm having too much fun with this.

perhaps work is the cousin of death

Good grief! Working lots + poor performance = horrid pay. Fortunately, I've got a second jorb for this next week to pick up the slack. And then I'll get a ridiculous jorb that I'll hate but will be paid giant sacks of cash for. And that's at least the next decade.

It's like that episode of "Pete and Pete"...

...where they tried to set the record for most consecutive hours without sleep. I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death, so they say, but I wish I could.

EDIT: So it's 5:26 now and I'm still awake. Coughing and hacking away. Still too early in the morning to call into work and say it won't happen today. I'd feel bad about it because we went out for drinks after work and when I left less than 6 hours ago I seemed all right.